Tag: turning 40

Ha! Ha! Ha! The joke’s on me. The best laid intentions often don’t go as planned. I wanted to be able to stop each week and give you guys the rundown, a play by play, of what I had been doing, how I was progressing on this journey, what great things I had done. The first few weeks went as planned. Unfortunately, as it often goes, life got in the way of my plans, and there weren’t enough hours at the end of my days for all that I was hoping to accomplish.

But it’s okay! I have NO regrets about how everything went down because I did make progress; I did work towards my goals; I did laugh and smile and grow during these last few weeks, and that is what counts.

When all is said and done, I can’t believe it’s almost here. I am only 4,(Count it: 1, 2, 3, 4) days away from turning the big 4-0!!!

While things did not go exactly according to plan, I am happy with what I’ve accomplished over the past few weeks. This week’s post, however, will be a bit different than the last ones because these past three weeks have certainly been different! But, hey, that’s life! So here’s what took place in the last three weeks (or at least the condensed version).

Week 6

This week was disrupted by the horrific tragedy that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. A week that should have been focused on love for one another was overshadowed by a senseless, horrible, unforgettable, despicable act of violence. As a teacher who works only 15 miles from this school and a parent of a high school student, this event shook me to my core. It compelled me to write this post because I needed to get some things off my chest as well as process how I was feeling. (Please take some time to read it if you can.)

Out of all that happened, I have been overwhelmed by all of the love and compassion that has come about as a result of this tragedy. The outpouring of love from the community and the country has been amazing! I just wish that it didn’t take a tragedy for us to pull together like this (just got an idea for a future blog post).

I did end the week by working with my coworker, once again, on trying to get our side hustles off the ground. On Saturday, we gathered the kids and went out to the beach to advertise for an event she had planned the next day. That Sunday was the event (a painting party to benefit her and a couple of other nonprofits with my acting as the photographer) which did not turn out as well as we would like it to have. However, we learned valuable lessons along the way and are sure that we will do better next time.

Not to mention that all of us had a great time together and I got to try some new food! We took the kids to a quaint restaurant called, “What the Pho” where I got to try pho for the first time. It was the bomb, the service was the bomb, and we all had a great time!

Week 7

It became official this week that I am going to be celebrating my birthday in a BIG way! Thanks to Hubby gifting me the money, I was able to pay to go to a Sanctuary Girl Retreat, and this week I bought the plane ticket to the retreat’s location: LOS ANGELES!!!! I cannot believe that in just two days, I will be going to L.A. to not only take part in a wonderful, life-changing retreat with my friend, Sabrina Hayes, but I will be spending my birthday there! All of it is overwhelming and exciting!!

I knew I wanted to celebrate my birthday in a big way, but this is even beyond what I thought I would be able to do. Over a little more than a year ago, I had the opportunity to attend a retreat with this beautiful lady, and my life was forever changed. Also, I met some amazing women with whom I still speak to on a regular basis.There is no doubt in my mind that this retreat will be even better! Look for a post all about the retreat, Sanctuary Girl, and my birthday weekend very soon!

Hubby and I also took the boys to see Black Panther. The plot mesmerized me as well as all of the beautiful actors and outfits! I beamed with pride as I watched the movie and fantasized about what it would be like to be a part of that country, to be a part of Wakanda. The knowledge and pride they possessed and their genuine love for one another and their culture made me wish that I lived there, too. I found everything about it fascinating especially the lesson that we need to take care of one another and spread the knowledge and love to all of our people so that we all can rise together. Wakanda forever, baby!!!! Wakanda forever!!!!

Week 8

This week of my journey to 40 was all about reigning in the chaos that was quickly becoming my life and taking a deep breath, focusing a bit more on God, my family, my job, my house. I was so caught up with everything else, that I began to neglect some other areas. (Future blog post?) Well, not really neglect, but not give as much time as I normally do or being too busy to do what I really wanted to do in each of those areas.

I ended this week feeling much more relaxed and organized and ready to take on the world. I spent more time with my boys enjoying the great outdoors, cleaned some areas of my house that really needed it, started reading a new book, watched a couple of good movies, fell asleep earlier each night, was there for Hubby and his family during their time of mourning, and just took care of me. (I think it helps that I knew a three-day workweek and a vacation and my birthday were coming up.)

So now I am in Week 9 of my journey and so excited about what this weekend will bring. I am turning 40 and I am excited! I am not fearful at all. I only see myself as getting better, wiser, stronger, kinder, more giving and forgiving. I am becoming whom God created me to be! Gracefully growing into my destiny! Watch out world! I am going to take this next decade of my life by storm!